Pedestrians in Connecticut, 60 years and older are disproportionately at risk of being killed in collisions with vehicles while walking, reports a new study by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. From 2009 through 2011, 30 pedestrians aged 60 years and older were killed on Connecticut roads, Tri-State’s annual report, "Older Pedestrians at Risk And How States Can Make it Safer and Easier for Older Residents to Walk" found.

This age group accounted for 30% of the state's total pedestrian fatalities during the three-year period. The pedestrian fatality rate for Connecticut residents 60 and older is 1.72 times higher than that of residents under 60. For residents 75 and older, the pedestrian fatality rate is nearly two times that of those under 60. Since Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s previous Older Pedestrians at Risk report, the pedestrian fatality rates decreased for pedestrians aged 60 years and older as well as for pedestrians 75 years and older. “As our population ages, it is critical that we continue to invest in making our roadways safer for older residents and all users,” said Jennifer Millea, associate state director of communications for AARP Connecticut.

Tri-State's research showed that Litchfield County had the highest average older pedestrian fatality rate of any county in Connecticut and the 12th highest of the 41 counties in the tri-state region (Connecticut, New Jersey and downstate New York counties).